Finding aid for the Eliza Bryant Center Auxiliary II Records


Repository: Western Reserve Historical Society
Creator: Eliza Bryant Center Auxiliary II
Title: Eliza Bryant Center Auxiliary II Records
Dates: 1954-1992
Extent: 0.40 linear feet (2 containers)
Abstract: The Eliza Bryant Center Auxiliary II, formerly known as the Junior Board of the Eliza Bryant Center, was a group founded by African American women in 1939 in Cleveland, Ohio. Organized by Bessie Blue, it was to provide residents of the Eliza Bryant Center, a home for the African American elderly, with a cheerful and homelike atmosphere. Members of the Auxiliary raised funds to purchase items and supplies such as kitchen equipment, linen, beds, carpeting, and electronics. The collection consists of codes of regulation, constitutions, historical data, minutes, correspondence, financial statements and reports, rosters, Christmas Mart and other program documents, newspaper clippings, memorabilia, proclamations, and resolutions. The collection pertains largely to fundraising events sponsored by the Auxiliary, one of of the best known being the annual Christmas Mart.
MS Number MS 4637
Location: closed stacks
Language: The records are in English

History of Eliza Bryant Center Auxiliary II

The Eliza Bryant Center Auxiliary II (f. 1939), formerly known as the Junior Board, was a group of African American women organized by Bessie Blue to provide residents of the Eliza Bryant Center, a home for the African American elderly, with a cheerful and homelike atmosphere. To meet these provisions, the members of the auxiliary raised funds to purchase various items and supplies including kitchen equipment, linen, beds, carpeting, and electronics. By doing this, the auxiliary has also improved the image of the center. Over the years, Auxiliary II has been committed to similar tasks and to generating community awareness of the Center.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Eliza Bryant

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Eliza Bryant Village


Scope and Content

The Eliza Bryant Center Auxiliary II Records, 1954-1992, consist of codes of regulation, constitutions, historical data, minutes, correspondence, financial statements and reports, rosters, Christmas Mart and other program documents, newspaper clippings, memorabilia, proclamations, and resolutions.

This collection pertains largely to fundraising events which Auxiliary II sponsored. One of the Auxiliary's most known fundraisers was the annual Christmas Mart, a benefit at which local businesses set up vending booths to sell merchandise to Christmas shoppers. Other activities included luncheons, teas, and fashion shows. This collection symbolizes the scope of social activities that philanthropic African American women were involved with for the sake of charity.


Statement of Arrangement

The collection is arranged by document and subject types, then chronologically.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Separated Material

All photographs have been removed to PG 473 Eliza Bryant Center Auxiliary II Photographs.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

African American aged -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
African American women -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Societies and clubs.
African Americans -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Charities.
African Americans -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Aged -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Charities -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Eliza Bryant Center (Cleveland, Ohio) Auxiliary II.
Eliza Bryant Center (Cleveland, Ohio).
Nursing homes -- Ohio -- Cleveland.

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ]MS 4637 Eliza Bryant Center Auxiliary II Records, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Julia Simpson, 1992

Processing Information

Processed by Lawna Gamble in 1993

Detailed Description of The Collection

Eliza Bryant Center Auxiliary II Records 1954-1992

Box Folder
1 1 Codes of regulation and constitutions 1970 1978 1984-1986
1 2 History 1970 1982
1 3-5 Minutes 1954-1960 1962-1967
1 6 Correspondence 1965-1969 1980-1984
Box Folder
2 7 Financial statements, reports, and receipts 1964-1967 1978-1982 1984
2 8 Members and business rosters 1973-1990
2 9-10 Christmas Mart 1967-1992
2 11 Programs and miscellaneous memorabilia 1967-1987
2 12 Newspaper clippings 1965-1989
2 13 Proclamations and resolutions 1985-1989